Suspects confess to killing Palestinian teen

Monday

Jul 7, 2014 at 11:43 AM

Three Israeli suspects in the killing of a Palestinian teenager who was abducted and burned to death last week confessed to the crime on Monday and were re-enacting the incident for authorities, an official said, as the country's leaders raced to contain a public uproar over the slaying.

The Associated Press

JERUSALEM — Three Israeli suspects in the killing of a Palestinian teenager who was abducted and burned to death last week confessed to the crime on Monday and were re-enacting the incident for authorities, an official said, as the country's leaders raced to contain a public uproar over the slaying.

The confessions came as violence continued on Israel's volatile front with the Gaza Strip. Palestinian militants bombarded Israel with some 40 rockets and mortars, drawing Israeli airstrikes in retaliation, and at least eight Palestinian militants were killed. As Israel pressed ahead with a mobilization of forces along the Gaza border, the Hamas militant group vowed revenge, saying "the enemy will pay a tremendous price."

Army spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner said Israel was "prepared for a potential deterioration" in Gaza "with potential to use military force as required."

The region has been on edge for weeks since three Israeli teenagers were kidnapped and killed in the West Bank. Last week, hours after the Israeli teens were buried, 16-year-old Mohammed Abu Khdeir was abducted from outside his home in east Jerusalem, and his charred remains were found shortly afterward in a Jerusalem forest. His death triggered days of violent protests in Arab areas of Jerusalem and northern Israel.

The Jewish suspects, all from the Jerusalem area, have not been identified, and remained in custody Monday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the continuing investigation.

Israel's Shin Bet internal security agency has put a gag order on the case, allowing few details, such as the suspects' identities or backgrounds, to be published, and even blocking lawyers' access to the suspects.

"I don't even know what they look like because the (Shin Bet security service) even has an order against me receiving a picture," said Naftali Werzberger, a lawyer for one of the suspects, adding that his client was prohibited from receiving details that he is represented by a lawyer at all.

"The families are in shock," he added. "No one among the suspects has a violent past or tendency and they can't explain how we got to this point where their children were arrested as suspects for acts that are very, very serious."

Palestinians say that Abu Khdeir's death was a revenge killing in response to the abductions and killings of the three Israeli teens.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned Abu Khdeir's death and tried to calm the public. On Monday, he called Abu Khdeir's father, Hussein, to express his condolences.

"I would like to express my outrage and that of the citizens of Israel over the reprehensible murder of your son," a statement quoted Netanyahu as saying.

"We acted immediately to apprehend the murderers. We will bring them to trial and they will be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law. We denounce all brutal behavior, the murder of your son is abhorrent and cannot be countenanced by any human being," he said.

Hussein Abu Khdeir, father of the slain boy, said he was not certain he spoke to Netanyahu.

"Maybe he called, I don't know," he said. "Tons of people called me this morning to apologize for what happened to my son. Some of them were crying. But I don't know if Netanyahu was one of them," he said.